Torquay made the long midweek trip from Devon expecting the Blues to give them a real battle but encountered no such resistance.
Chester failed to get going and barely mustered a shot on target against a tough and robust side with too much pace for them to handle.
Much of the post-match discussion will centre on referee Karl Evans, whose performance ranged from the ridiculous to the downright bizarre, but that had no bearing on the result.
Torquay were not a pleasant bunch with Angus MacDonald alleged to have spat at Craig Hobson but on this showing the Gulls will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
Manager Steve Burr named an unchanged side for the first time this season, no great surprise given the 1-0 win over Macclesfield Town at the weekend.
Both the performance and the result had raised spirits among the management team, the squad and the fans, and another three points would be the perfect start to the month.
Gulls boss Chris Hargreaves had to make one change from the 4-0 win over Nuneaton Town with Jordan Chapell replacing injured winger Courtney Cameron.
Torquay, relegated from the Football League at the end of last season, began the campaign with defeat at Gateshead but had recovered well to put together a six-game unbeaten run.
Chester were slow out of the traps and should have fallen behind in the second minute when the defence got in a muddle but Jon Worsnop saved from Ryan Bowman before scrambling well to collect the ball.
Worsnop made another good intervention seconds later when he rushed out to smother the ball after Bowman went clean through after he appeared to have fouled Gareth Roberts.
Torquay breathed a sigh relief on four minutes when Craig Hobson tried to deflect Kingsley James' shot towards goal but the forward couldn't get the ball on target.
After that frenzied start things settled down but the Gulls looked more dangerous with pace out wide and the gangling Duane O'Achie proving awkward.
Chester were not fluent enough in possession and the Devon side continued to threaten with Worsnop again doing well to force Chapell wide and block when the winger should have scored.
Referee Mr Evans had hinted at what was to come with some odd decisions but events in the 29th minute confused everyone inside the ground.
Michael Kay brought down Bowman and there was a case for him being dismissed as the last man but Mr Evans instead booked Kieran Charnock, already on a yellow card, and then sent him off.
Cue furious reactions on the pitch and in the stands and after a few seconds the official realised and corrected his mistake, allowing Charnock to remain on the field and booking Kay.
Chester were too open but seemed to be getting on top heading into half-time when the Gulls hit the woodwork through O'Achie, whose shot from close range beat Worsnop but rebounded off the post.
MacDonald should have done better when he headed Luke Young's corner wide and he was involved in a push-and-shove on the whistle with suggestions he had spat at Hobson.
Tensions were still running high when the game restarted and O'Achie picked up a booking for shoving Charnock off-the-ball on 52 minutes.
Torquay began to take control and Burr made a change on the hour mark with Craig Mahon replacing Jadan Hall but there was a feeling the pressure would tell.
And the goal arrived on 61 minutes when Aaron Downes got his head to Young's corner, the Gulls 11th of the game, and steered the ball past Worsnop.
Chester needed to respond and threw on Callum Morris for his debut and Wayne Riley, but never threatened to trouble the well-drilled Gulls defence.
Torquay found things far too comfortable and scored again on 78 minutes when some neat passing opened the Blues up and Bowman fired between Worsnop's legs.
There was no way back for Chester, who struggled to match the performance seen against Macclesfield, and the defeat undoes some of the weekend's good work.
Chester FC: Worsnop, Heneghan, Kay, Charnock, G Roberts, Harrison (Morris 66), James, McConviile (Riley 71), Rooney, Hall (Mahon 59), Hobson.
Subs: C Roberts, Iwelumo.
Booked: Charnock, Kay, James, Rooney.
Torquay United: Rice, Tonge, Downes, MacDonald, Cruise, Chapell, Young, Richards, Ajala, O'Achie, Bowman.
Subs: Pearce, Yeoman, Wakefield, Seabright, Sullivan.
Goals: Downes 61, Bowman 78.
Booked: MacDonald, O'Achie, Ajala, Richards.
Referee: Karl Evans (Wigan).
Attendance: 1,954.
